Phil sees WE BOUGHT A ZOO at the Camera 12-January 7, 2011

For the third and final film I saw at the Camera 12 was the new family film WE BOUGHT A ZOO. The film was directed by Cameron Crowe and starred Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning and Patrick Fugit.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2011)

The film is based on the incredible but true story of Benjamin Mee (Damon), a recently widowed husband with two children: rebellious and recently expelled teenage son Dylan (Colin Ford) and adorable seven year-old Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). To give his family a fresh start, Benjamin buys an run down, dilapidated zoo, against the advice of his older brother Duncan (Church). The zoo is complete with all sorts of animals, including lions, tigers, and bears. Oh my! Helping Benjamin are the unpaid and unsure staff who think 'ol Ben here won't last. The only staff member who believes in him is the head zoo keeper Kelly Foster (Johansson). Soon Ben and the gang spend their every waking moment repairing and updating the zoo for their inspection before their grand reopening to the public.

It's be over six years since Crowe has made a narrative film since the critically panned ELIZABETHTOWN (which this reviewer really enjoyed). While he was busy making the incredible documentary PEARL JAM TWENTY (read my review for that film here), a lot happened to Crowe, mainly his publicized divorce from musician and sometimes collaborator on films Nancy Wilson from the rock group Heart. One has to wonder if he sympathized with Mee, who lost his wife to cancer.

Damon, who put on a couple of pounds to play the role of the grief husband, really gives a fine performance as Benjamin. He's believable, honest, sincere, and really makes the audience care about him. The lovely Johansson tries to downplay her hotness, but it doesn't work, she's still damn hot! But my favorite performance goes to little Maggie Elizabeth Jones, who is just so adorable! She literally makes you smile and laugh every time she's in frame. Also look for the enchanting Elle Fanning as Lily Miska, who helps out at the zoo and falls for Dylan, who is just so angry with his mom's death that Benjamin can't control him. The tension between father and son relatable.

The film starts off a little slow in the first act, but once the second act begins, the films unfolds to reveal numerous zoo keepers, animals and some hilarious sibling squabbling between Benjamin and Church. Also a great love story with Ben and Kelly, Lily and Dylan, and Ben with his kids, who begins to tell stories to kids about their mom. As Benjamin puts it, "You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." Great advise that I've ever heard from a movie.

Like all of Crowe's other movies, the film has a awesome soundtrack. It contains some amazing music from Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Wilco, Cat Stevens, Temple of the Dog, The Isley Brothers. Neil Young and Swedish legend jónsi. If you find this soundtrack anywhere, pick it up! It's this winter's best mixed tape!

WE BOUGHT A ZOO is one of Cameron Crowe's best films, involving authentic emotions while simultaneously making you chuckle, and bringing some tears to you eyes. The film is an heartfelt film, which is Crowe's forte. If you're looking for a great afternoon movie that will make you leave the theater with a smile on your face, then this is the film for you.

WE BOUGHT A ZOO is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the exclusive screening of PEARL JAM TWENTY at the Camera 3-Sept. 20, 2011

Last night I had the great fortune to attend a very special screening of director Cameron Crowe's new documentary entitled PEARL JAM TWENTY at the very cool Camera 3 Theaters in Downtown San Jose! The Camera 3 is also the home of the world famous Psycho Donuts, which makes some of the most delicious and eclectic named donuts in town! After purchasing some awesomely yummy donuts from the kind nurses behind the counter, I made my way to the front row to watch the film.

PJ20 documents the band's rise to super stardom through candid interviews and archival footage. The film begins with two of its founders: Jeff Ament and Stone Gassard and how these two friends formed their previous bands Green River and the influential Mother Love Bone. With their charismatic front man Andy Wood, MLB was on the brink of becoming the band of the 90s, but with the death of Andy, both Ament and Gossard teamed up with another childhood friend Mike McCready to form a new band. Upon receiving a demo tape from a San Diego surfer named Eddie Vedder, the band known as Pearl Jam was formed. With the release of their debut album Ten, the band burst into the mainstream and found themselves in the spotlight, much to the dismay for the band members.

Cameron Crowe was a music journalist in Seattle in the mid-80s and he was there when the whole "Seattle Scene" was beginning to form. Having that access, Crowe was easily able to obtain the nearly 1,200 hours of archival footage of the band, while simultaneously getting some very intimate interviews from the band, as well as from Matt Cameron (former drummer of Soundgarden and the band's current drummer), Chris Cornell (also from Soundgarden and Temple of The Dog), as well as from Crowe himself. The film also chronicles their distrust of the mainstream, their pulling back from the spotlight, their fight with ticketmaster, and their now freedom to purse their musical dreams without interference.

Because the screening sold out, the Camera 3 management informed the crowd that the film's distributor was so pleased with the turn out, that they agreed to have encore screenings of the film for a week starting this Friday! So to all you Pearl Jam fans who couldn't attend the screening, now you have a chance to see the film!

PEARL JAM TWENTY is a fantastic documentary about one of the most important bands from the 1990s, and their journey from grunge band to revered musical artists. Highly recommended film about an amazing band!

PEARL JAM TWENTY will be playing once daily from Sept. 23-29 at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://www.cameracinemas.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!